Closure cap for collapsible tubes



June 8, 1943. G, L.. LATEUR 2,321,031

CLOSUREYCAP FOR COLLAPSIBLE TUBES Filed March 1'4, 1959 A TTORNE YS.

Patented June 8, 1943 UNITED ST TES OFFICE 1 Claim.

My invention relates to improvements in a closure cap for collapsible tubes, and it consists of the combinations, constructions and arrangements hereinafter described and claimed.

An object of my invention is to provide a closure cap for collapsible tubes in which the outlet end of the tube is made cylindrical and is provided with an opening in its side. A cap is movable over the cylindrical outlet end and has an opening in its side that will register with the rst opening when the cap is rotated into a pre determined position. Novel means is provided for limiting the rotation of the cap from closed to open position.

If desired, the same principle may be used with a cap that ts on the inner surface of the cylindrical outlet opening. In this case, both the cylindrical end of the tube and the cylindrical portion of the cap are provided with cooperating slots that may be brought into registration with each other to permit tooth paste to be squeezed from the tube. Novel means is also used for aiding in severing the ejected portion of the paste from the tube at a point adjacent to the tube opening. The cap has a tapered edge that slides over the opening in the cylindrical end of the tube and acts as a wiper for cleaning the paste from the tube portion.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device of the type described which is extremely simple in construction and durable and efficient for the purpose intended.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the following specification, and the novel features of the device will be particularly pointed out in the appended claim.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing forming a part of this application, in which Figure 1 is a vertical section through the device;

Figure 2 is a vertical section through the cap taken substantially at right angles to that shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the tube with the cap removed;

Figure 4 is a horizontal section thro-ugh the cap and tube shown in Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a side elevation of the device shown in Figure 1;

Figure 6 is a sectional View of a modified form of the invention, where the closure cap is mounted inside of the cylindrical tube end;

Figure 7 is a sectional View of a ring used in the modified form;

Figure 8 is a side elevation of the closure cap used in Figure 6, showing the ring and cap in one piece;

Figure 9 is a horizontal section through the tube shown in Figure 6, and shows a bottom plan view of the neck and closure;

Figure 10 is a horizontal section through Figure 1 and at a lower elevation; and

Figure 1l is a vertical section through anothe modied form of the device.

In carrying out my invention, I provide acollapsible tube generally indicated at I and this tube has a cylindrical end 2, see Figure 3. The cylindrical portion has a longitudinally extending slot 3 in its wall. Figure-3 also shows a longtudinal extending groove 4 in the outer surface of the cylindrical end 2 and paralleling the slot 3. The groove 4 lcommunicates with an annular groove 5 that is deeper than the groove 4.-

The cylindrical end 2 is closed by a closure cap 6 and the cap has a cylindrical portion 'I de-A signed to rotatably receive the cylindrical end 2.- The outer end of the cap E is closed at 8 and hasits rim knurled at 9. The cap is provided witlr a slot Il preferably of the same width asthe slot 3. inwardly extending projection II is formed on the inner surface of the closure cap 6.' When the cap is to be mounted on the cylindrical end 2, the projection I I is rst aligned with the groove 4 and then the cap is moved downwardlyinto place, the projection sliding along the groove.Y

When the cap is moved entirely-.into place, the

projection II will drop into the `deeper groove 5- and willhold the cap rotatably in place and prevent it from being withdrawn. The groove 5 is` long enough to permit the cap to-be rotated from closed position to open vposition andvice versa.

The upper portion of thecap near the slot I0, covers the open end of the slot-3. The slot 3 may therefore have a closed end, if desired.

In Figures 4 and 5 I show the shape of the caps outer surface adjacent-tothe opening I0.

It will be noted vthat this outer surface is flattened at I2 and the flattened portion lies-substantially ush with the-inner edgeof the cap opening It. This provides two tapered side edges 10a to the opening III and these-edges will act as wipers for keeping the surface ofthe portion 2 clean from paste. The cap .need

not be rotated on the portion 2 to .sever theI ribbon of material from the container.- This would require the luse of two hands, one to hold the container and the other to rotate thecap... I have provided a simple severing means for.

the ribbon of material which will function when the container and cap are rotated as a unit.`

This permits the operator to hold the brushin one hand and sever the ribbon material by rocking the tube and cap about ,their combined axes with the other hand.

lip acts in much the same manner as a knife It will be noted from Figure Z'that an-v The vmaterial severing means comprises a lip I3 which extends along one edge of the flattened.A surface I2, and this edge functions to aid in severing the extruded portion of the tooth paste from the opening when the container is rocked about its axis. The operator merely rocks the tube slightly in a clockwise direction about its longitudinal axis, when looking at Figure 4, to eiTect this severing action. This rockingA movement will bend the extruded ribbon toward the lip I3 and the lip will finally come into contact with the ribbon and its edge will knife through the ribbon to sever it.

From the foregoing description of the various parts of the device, the operation thereof may be readily understood.

The material forming the cap 6 is resilient enough to permit a slight enlargement of the cylindrical portion of the cap when the projection I I is moved along the groove 4. The cylindrical portion will move back into normal position when the projection II reaches the deeper groove 5 and snapsl into the groove. In this simple way, the cap is locked to the tube I and yet may be-rotated through apredetermined arc for opening or closing the tube. The knurled portion 9 provides a surface which may be grasped and turned for manipulating the cap.

When the cap is in open position and is being used, the ilat surface I2 is placed a short distance above the tooth brush bristles and then the tube is squeezed for forcing the desiredl amount of tooth paste therefrom. While the operator squeezes the tube, he also moves it along the bristlescausing the material to lie in a proper manner on the brush. After a sufficient quantity of material has been forced from the tube, the tube is rockedy slightly about its longitudinal axis in a clockwiseV directionA when looking at Figure 4. The'lip- I3` cooperates with the adjacent edge of the opening 3 and acts as a knife edge for cutting through the ribbon ofpasteto sever the portionv of the tooth paste already expelled from the tube; The cap may nowl be rotated into closed position. Figure 5 illustrates the lip I3 as extending through a greater distance than the opening formed by the combined slots 3 and I Il. The ends of the lip I3 are inclined at an angle as at I3a and extend'toward the tube opening.

In Figures 6 to' 9 inclusive, I show a modified form of the invention in which the capis placed on the inside of the tube neck. TheY tube I 4. shown in Figure 6, has a neck portion I5 with an openingv I 6 in its wall. A closure II is disposed in the neck I5 and has an-arcuate portion I8, see Figure 8, for closing the opening I6.

A springY arm I9 has an angularly bent portion I9a designed to bearV againstv the wall of a recess I'5a in the neckl I5. When the closure I1 is placed in the neck, the springA arm I9 is flexed inwardly a slight distance during the time the portion lilal slides alongv the inner surface of the neck. When thecap has been moved into proper position, the portionl IQa will spring outwardly into the recess or groove I5a and this will hold the cap` against being withdrawn. A cup-shaped4 member 20a. of the shape shown in Figure 6, is placed over a central projection 2| on the cap and is permanently secured to the cap. The member bears against the rim of the neck I5 and holds the cap` against inward movement. The outer periphery of the member may be knurled as at 22', see Figure 8', in order to aid in rotating. the closure. A ring shown in Figure '7, may take. the place of the cupshaped' member 20a, ifl desired.

' II may be actuated to close the opening I6.

The groove I5a is of a sufficient length to limit the rotation of the cap between open and closed positions. It is possible for the device to be lused in dispensing powders as well as a paste and where a powder is to be dispensed, it is not necessary that the container be collapsible.

It is possible to form the groove 4 with a slight lip on one side and then when the cap 6 is moved into place, this lip will be bentl into the groove and act as a stop for preventing the cap projection II from again passing along the groove. In this simple way, the cap is permanently secured in place. The lip 4a is shown in Figure l0 and is indicated as being bent into the groove 4 by the cylindrical cap portion 1. The same figure also shows the groove 5 as being deeper than the groove 4.

In case it is desirable to make theA cap out ofv a material that lacks spring qualities such as lead, I provide a cap of the shape shown in Figure 11. The cap 23 has a cylindrical portion with a ilanged lower edge 24 anda central projection 25 closing the cap top. The cap is inserted into the container neck froml the bottom and the flange 24 rotatably bears against the neck bottom. The flange carries a projection 24a. that is received in the recess I5a to limit therotation of the cap or closure in the neck. The shoulder 26 of the cap lies flush with thek rim of the neck and a ring 2"I is' placed. over the projection 25 and rides on the neck rim for preventing the closure from moving into the container. The closure has an opening 28 adapted to register with the neck opening I6. In Figure 6, the member 20a has a closed top A to cover the central projection 2I onthe cap.

It is possible to place the ring 20, shown in Figure 7, on the projection and have the projection show through the opening. The form of closure shown in Figure 8 illustrates the member 26a as integral with the cap and not as being secured thereto after the cap is made.

While I have shown only the preferred forms of my invention, it should be understood that variousv changes or modifications may be made within the scope of the appended claim without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

In a dispensing device for a collapsible tube containing a plastic material, a cylindricall member having a longitudinally extending slot therein, the outer surface of the member disposed near the slot being flattened to materially lessen the thickness of the longitudinal edges bordering the slot and to define two longitudinallyextending iiattened surfaces bordering the slot, and a lip formed along the outer longitudinal edge of one of the flat surfaces for aiding in severing the dispensed material at a point near the slot when the cylindrical member is rotated for causing the lip to out through the material extruded through the slot.

GASTON L. LATEUR. 

